Eerdinand bechoee



F. BECHOFF.

ELECTRICAL CLRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FELED FEB-1,1918.

atented Jan. 13, 1920.

mulllilllll UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

FERDINAND BECHOFF, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL vcracnrr-corurnormrn.

Application filed February 1, 1918.

To all lwhom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, FERDINAND BECHOFF, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Circuit-Controllers, of which the following is a specication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to circuit controllers which have for their object the selective closure of one of two or more circuits. Such controllers are particularly adapted for use in systems employing remote controlledmotors or solenoids, such as may be employed, for example, in the operation of carbon or oil circuit-breakers. These controllers are intended to close their circuits only momentarily, being normally held by springs in such position that both circuits are open. lThey are usually mounted on a control switchboard and should, therefore, be of comparatively small size, but the contacts should be large enough to carry a comparatively large current in order to avoid the necessity of additional control relays or contactors.

As these control switches have heretofore been constructed, the failure of their springs has often caused the burning out of the contacts or of intermediate coils. Furthermore, the springs have heretofore been entirely inclosed, and therefore difficult of access or inspection. According to my invention the number and movement of springs is reduced to a minimum and the closing of the contacts is accomplished with a small movement of a single operating lever, thus simplifying the entire operation. At the same time there is a maximum clearance between the contacts, when open, which feature has not been obtainable in prior devices where the contact making bridge is rigidly fastened to the operating lever. In my device the closing of the circuits is compulsorily alternative in their circuit closing action, e., when one circuit is closed, the other cannot be, and vice versa.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I, is a plan view.

Fig. II, is a central sectional view of a switchboard having applied thereto a controlling switch embodying my invention.

Fig. III, is a plan section taken along the line III, III, of Fig. II.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

Serial No. 214,979.

Figs. IV, and V, are detail sectional views taken respectively along the lines IV, IV, and V, V, of Fig. II.

Fig. VI, is a detail modification of an adjustment means employed in connection with my improved switch.

Referring to the drawings, the panel 1, has mounted upon its face an escutcheon plate 2. This plate is cut away centrally and the edges of the opening thus formed are prolonged as walls 3 3, between which is set the pivot 4, which carries the control lever 5, the movement 0f which is limited bythe ends of the slots 8, 8, cut in said walls. The pivoted end of the control lever is bifurcated and within its fork may conveniently be mounted indicating devices not here shown. The control lever terminates in a rather large and conspicuous handle 6, which is not only readily manipulated, but capable of displaying colored surfaces different from each other, so that the respective positions of the lever are constantly forced upon the attention of the eye of the operator.

Upon the rear side of the panel is mounted a back plate 10. The back plate and the escutcheon plate are connected by tubes or sleeves 11, 11, which pass completely through the panel uniting the plates and registering with circular apertures in both. The sleeves are tapped into the apertures of the escutcheon plate and are held against the back plate by v,nuts 7. Through the sleeves pass plungers 12, 12, the ends of which on the escutcheon side of the device are in position to come into contact with the control lever 5, by which one or the other of them may be driven through their sleeves as the lever is thrown to one side or the other. The ends of the plungers which project through the back plate 10, of the device carry stop pins 13, which by coming in contact with the ends of the sleeves (or the nuts 7 hold the plungers in their seats and prevent them from being driven farther toward the control lever than is desirable.

The back plate of the device carries a yoke standard 20, provided with a cross piece 21, which carries an extension 22, upon either side of which is secured an insulating plate 23, upon which are set contact plates 24, 24, the proper bridging of which it is the object of my controlling switch to accomplish.

Between the sides of the yoke v20, is set a pivot 30, upon which are fulcrumed the two contact levers 31,' 31, the pivotedlends of which are bifurcated. The bifurcations .are arrangedupon the pivot in alternation, as seen in Fig. III. Between the bifurcations 'of the respectivelevers, the spring atall times tending t0 thrust both contact levers into their open positions, at the same time forcing the'plungers toward the control' lever. Thefbifurcationslare continued in the form of slots 37, to screw holes in which are set adjustment screws 36. The screws 35, perform the further yfunction of drawing together the bifurcated 'ends' of the levers, the pressure thus produced being communicated by wavy of slots 37, tothe screw holes in whichthe' adjustment screws 3.6, are set, ther'eb'. 4 acting asclamp screws to maintain said a justment screws in-their desired position; The heads.y of these adjustment screws are set so as to liedirectly beneath and in position to; contact with the vcorresponding ends of the yplungers 12, l2, and by means of this contact whichever .one of these plungers is pushed. by the control lever, such push is communicated directl "to the opposing contact lever 31, which 1s thus driven toward the contact plates 24:,'in opposition to the tension of the spring 33, the movement of the plunger bein multiplied by reason of its-contact withl t e contact lever between its pivot and its extremity being nearer the pivot than the extremity.

The free end of each contact lever 31 is alsoI bifurcated as at 37, and between the bifurcation is set the pivot 38, upon which is fulcrumed the insulating block 39, to which is attached as by thel screw 40, the spring bridging contact e1, preferably shaped as shownqin the drawing.v The ends of these bridging contacts are shod with contact pieces 42,. which are turned over the ends and fastened thereto by rivets. The distance between the ends of the bridging contacts is such that when the contact lever is thrown into the proper position, the contacts bridge the contact plates 24, on the corresponding side of the yoke standard 20. The pivote insulating block 39, is formed with shoulders 50, so related to the bifurcations of the contact lever 31, as to constitute stops to limitth'e movement of the bridging contact 41 about its pivot, sufficient play being allowed to insure a true wiping contact.

It is essential to the proper operation of a device of this character that the closing of the circuits between the contact pieces 24, 24:, on one side or the other, shall be both selective and compulsorily alternative so asito absolutely prevent the possibility of both contacts being made at the same time. To accomplish this the pivoted ends of the contact leversl, .are ifnterlocked by means of the lugs 52, on the one projecting into the path of the portions 53, of the other. These parts are so relatedpto each other that before either contact lever has made its bridging contact, the opposing portions meet and positively drive the other contact lever away from position to make its bridging contact, should the spring 33, have not already done so.

As a useful adjunct of my device I have shown lights 70, '50, which are placed respectively in circuit with auxiliary'switches actuated by the remote .controlled solenoid or motor, so that the closing or opening of the remote controlled apparatus such as a cir- .cuit breaker, will display the corresponding light. These lights may conveniently be covered by glass lenses 71-71, of which one maybe red and the other green, and these colors may be made to correspond with the corresponding colored sides4 of thehandle 6, visibly indicating whether the movement of the control lever has accomplished the closing of the desired circuit.

The operation of my device is as-follows: Vhen the handle 6, is manually thrown as shown in Fig. II, (displaying for example its red sider in .juxtaposition to the red indieating lens) the corresponding plunger 12, is forced through its sleeve andthe vcontact lever beneath it is forced into position to effect bridging contact between the contact plates 24, 2l,- with which it coperates, vthus closing that circuit. `When the control lever 6, is thrown in the opposite position, the. same operation is carried out upon the other contact lever. It is not intended that the contact thus occasioned shall be permanent as all that is desired in either case is temporary contact sufficient to close a circuit and accomplish remote control of some other electrically actuated device. Accordingly, as soon as the manual pressure which accomplishes the closing of the Vdesired contact is released, the tension of the spring 33, withdraws the contact lever sufliciently to break the contact, at the same time pushing the plunger a short distance in the direction of the control lever 6, in which position it remains until manually reversed for the accomplishment of the closing of the alternate circuit. Should, however, the spring fail to thus operate, the interlocking of the contact levers as described compels the opening of one circuit before the other can be closed.

In the modification of Fig. VI, the lower end of the plunger 12, is threaded as indicated at 80, to engage an adjusting nut 81. This nut is rounded as at 82, and bears di rectly against the contact lever 31. When in its uppermost position, nut 81, also serves as a stop to limit the protrusion of plungers 12. By this arrangement, the length of plungers 12. may be regulated in accordance with the adjustment desired.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a device ofthe character specified, the combination of pivoted contact levers carrying bridging contacts at their free ends, stationary contacts in pairs positioned so as to be bridged by the bridging contacts, and interlocking surfaces on the contact levers by which the simultaneous bridging of more than one pair of contacts is prevented.

'2. In a device of the character specified, a single control lever, parallel plungers in position to be selectively operated by contact with said control lever, pivoted contact levers in position to be operated one by each plunger, stationary contacts in position to effect closure of 'an electric circuit in combination with the pivoted contact levers, and a single spring exercising pressure to hold both pivoted contact levers away from the stationary contacts until moved in the opposite direction by one of thel plungers.

3. In a device of the character specified, the combination of two contact levers mounted on a common pivot and each carrying a bridging contact, a central support having a pair of stationary contacts on each side in position to be bridged by said bridging contacts, a control lever pivoted to swing in the same plane as that in which the contact levers swing, two independent plungers positioned to actuate thel contact levers, and controlled by said control lever, one of which is actuated by the control lever when swung in one direction and the other of which is actuated by it when swung in the other direction, whereby the motion of the control lever is communicated to one or other of the Contact levers to push its bridging contact against its pair of stationary contacts.

4. In a device of the character specified, the combination of two contact levers each carrying a bridging contact, a central support carrying two pairs of stationary contacts each in position to be bridged by said bridging contacts, a pivoted control lever, a plunger for each contact lever bearing at one end against said contact lever between its pivot and its bridging contact while its other end is in position to be actuated by the control lever.

5. In a device of the character specified, the combination of two contact levers mounted upon a common pivot and each carrying a bridging contact, a central support carrying two pairs of stationary contacts each in position to be bridged by the bridging contacts, springs normally holding both contact levers away from their stationary contacts, a plunger for each contact lever bearing at one end against the contact lever between its pivot and its bridging contact, and a single pivoted control lever which when swung in one direction actuates one plunger and when swung in the other direc tion actuates the other.

6. In a device of the character specified, two contact levers provided with bridging contacts, both of said levers being pivoted to a common pivot, two pairs of stationary contacts, each pair in position to be bridged by one of said bridging contacts, springs tending to separate the bridging contacts from their stationary contacts, means for selectively actuating one or the other of said contact levers, in opposition to said springs, and interlocking surfaces on said contact levers so related as to prevent the simultaneous movement of both contact levers into position where both pairs of stationary contacts are bridged.

7. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a pair of parallel plungers, a control lever pivoted between said plungers in position to selectively actuate one or the other by contact with the end thereof, two contact levers pivoted upon a common pivot between said plungers and each actuated by the contact of one of said plungers with said lever between its pivot and its free end, and a spring coiled upon the pivot of said contact levers, and exerting pressure upon both of them to oppose their actuation by the plunger.

8. In a device of the character specified, two Contact levers mounted upon a common pivot each having pivoted upon its free extremity a bridging contact, a central support carrying stationary contacts in pairs, in position for each pair to be. bridged by one of the bridging contacts, springs tending to hold each contact lever with its bridging contact away from its stationary contacts, a plunger for the actuating of each contact lever by pressure exerted between the pivot and the free end of the contact lever, and adjustable means through which the motion of the plungers is communicated to the contact levers.

9. In a device of the character specified, a front plate on a supporting panel, a back plate on the other side of said supporting panel, sleeves connecting said plates and registering with apertures therein, plungers in said sleeves, a control lever pivoted to the front plate in position as it is drawn to one side or the other to puslnone or the other of said plungers in their sleeves, and contact levers pivoted to said back plate in position to be actuated by the motion of said plungers.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at the borough of Manhattan, New York city, this 24th day of J anuary, 1918.

FERDINAND BECHOFF.

Witnesses:

MAURICE M. SAMUELS, BLANCHE GREENWALD. 

